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The GLOBAL MIGRATION FLOWS interactive app tracks migrants around the world. This application is now being hosted by IOM.int. It is endlessly fascinating to explore where we're from. The underlying data for the map was published by the UN DESA in 2015.

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CARMP activities in Kazakhstan

CARMP provides support to the governments of Kazakhstan to formulate, adopt and implement evidence-based policies for managing migration that both fosters regularized migration and contributes to the protection of migrants’ rights. CARMP activities are aimed at building capacity in a sustainable manner seeking to ensure that gender equality and human rights aspects of labour migration are incorporated in reviewed policies. It will also make sure that policy makers and practitioners in Kazakhstan are better informed on the specificities of male and female labour migration.

CARMP supports the government to develop a methodology for estimating demand for foreign labour, which will improve the private sector and government’s ability to promote regularization of migrants.

CARMP commissioned experts analyze source material and prepare analytical notes with recommendations on how to improve different elements of migration management process. These also include recommendations for improving the secondary legislation, by-laws and other normative acts.

CARMP works closely in the Ministry of Interior on development of legal provisions for regularization of migrant workers.

A better system of management of labour migration needs migration officials who are trained on new skills and knowledge. CARMP train government officials on mechanisms associated with the implementation of new regulations and procedures (including secondary legislation, by laws and other normative acts).
CARMP also develops a training curriculum on migration management for the Academy of the Ministry of Interior.

CARMP provides specialized expert advice to Migration Service to prepare and follow up on EurAsEC high level and expert group meetings. Topics for briefing notes are agreed and include gender issues.

Output III: Labour migrants and their families benefit from a broader range of gender sensitive services provided throughout migration cycle.

The provision of services to migrants is more effective if the underlying policies are improved, and if they are properly implemented. It is also important that there is effective coordination between different (state and non-state) service providers, among other things to ensure that different stages of the migration cycle are considered as integral part of one coherent process.

The following activities are undertaken within Output III:

Strengthening the capacity of the Migrants’ Support Centres (MSC) for labour migrants through training and technical assistance. The aim is to establish five operational MSCs;

Seminars, roundtables and meetings to foster coordination and strengthen cooperation;

Survey and monitoring of profiles of migrant workers in Kazakhstan and their access to services.

Strengthening the capacity of the MSCs.

Assistance to migrants in Kazakhstan is mainly provided by NGOs. Usually the NGO provides migrants with advice on legal stay (entry, exit,), opportunities for employment, rights and obligations of migrants workers. IOM has its own network of NGO partners specialized in migration issues. Some of these partners were running MSCs during previous IOM migration programmes, other Support Centres were supported by other international agencies. During the inception phase CARMP re-assessed the capacity of the existing NGO-run Migrant Support Centres.

After the evaluation CARMP selects five most suitable NGO partners to run Migrants Support Centres and trains its staff on delivering assistance to migrants, networking, conducting information campaign and reaching out to migrants in need as well as cooperation with authorities.

CARMP finances operations of MSCs which are responsible for providing counselling and assistance to labour migrants throughout the project period. All operations of the MSC are conducted in close coordination with IOM. CARMP monitors the operations of MSCs through regular reports, random check via telephone and field visits.

Seminars, round tables and coordination meetings.

CARMP organizes regular consultation events (seminars, round tables, coordination meetings) between NGOs, private sector, diaspora organizations and state employment agencies to enhance coordination and cooperation between different service providers and make sure that all the needs of labour migrants are properly referred to, and addressed by, competent service providers.

Information dissemination to potential and current labour migrants.

The aim of the information campaign is to inform the audiences of the risks related to irregular migration (and irregular employment) and to advice on ways to prevent this from happening. CARMP involves all relevant counterparts to the design and content of the information campaign. Also all relevant counterparts are involved in information dissemination.

Dissemination of information material is the best way to reach out to migrants and equip them with necessary information regarding their legal stay (and employment) and at the same time prevent them from being exposed to exploitative practices including human trafficking.

CARMP does assessment of the existing information material. Further information material are developed in close coordination with respective government officials. It is crucial for the whole awareness raising campaign that the authorities are involved to sustain the ownership of the process.

Direct assistance and support to labour migrants.

CARMP provides direct assistance to migrant workers in need. Experience shows many migrants workers are in need of not only legal counselling and representation in courts, but of assistance in negotiation with unfair employers. Many migrant workers turn for assistance only when they are in a very difficult situation. Having been treated unfairly by an employer, migrants are left without money for food, housing, clothes and to pay for their trip home. Often they are in need of urgent medical treatment. Provision of this kind of assistance to migrant workers on case by case basis is an integral part of the protection and also builds confidence amongst migrant communities who can see that, beside consultation, MSCs are capable of providing real help to labour migrants who need it.

Survey and monitoring of profiles of migrant workers in Kazakhstan and their access to services.

In order to address better the needs of labour migrants and adjust policies and protection programmes CARMP conducts a survey of profiles of migrant workers in Kazakhstan. The survey assesses the profiles of migrant workers and their access to services (health services, education, legal assistance). The survey is presented to and discussed with project partners.

Output V: Increase capacity of civil society organisations to support measures to increase social tolerance of labour migrants and reduce xenophobia in destination countries.

In Kazakhstan the activities under this output to are undertaken to increase the social tolerance of the local population towards labour migrants

CARMP supports a media scan and media self-assessment initiative, through which media institutions are able to critically assess their own media products from the perspectives of discriminatory and imbalanced portraying of women and men labour migrants and their role in the development of the local societies and economies.

The following activities will be undertaken in two oblasts in Kazakhstan:

Facilitate partnership to develop a strategy on the social integration of labour migrants.

Initiatives to support the social integration of labour migrants are mainly being undertaken by civil society organizations and the diaspora on an ad-hoc basis. To ensure that effective measures on the social integration of labour migrants are adopted, there is a need for a strategy that helps conceptualize specific local policies on social integration and outlines the roles and responsibilities of development partners. The project supports key partners (municipalities, NGOs, diaspora) to develop a strategy through a participatory process in order to build ownership by relevant partners under the leadership of the local branch of Migration Agency.

Support networks and associations to conduct media campaigns.

The perpetuation of negative or stereotyped images of women and men labour migrants, particularly in the media, does not provide an accurate or realistic picture of the roles and contribution of labour migration to local economies in receiving countries. The elimination of these stereotypes is paramount for the establishment of a human rights based and gender responsive environment which is friendly and conducive for the social integration of women and men labour migrants. Whilst the media cannot be held responsible for the actions, attitudes or behaviour of individuals, it is powerful in shaping public opinion, bringing new issues or perspectives to light, and defining the terms of public debate. This activity therefore focuses on strengthening the capacity of local civil society organizations and the diaspora to work with the media to promote a more positive image of labour migrants.